EPA Delays Decision On Perry’s Request For Renewable Fuels Standards Waiver

Yesterday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it would delay a decision on Texas Governor Rick Perry’s request for a waiver from the Renewable Fuels Standards. The decision was originally set to be announced on July 24. EPA administrator Stephen L. Johnson said in a press statement more work needed to be done on Texas’ waiver request thanks in part to over 15,000 public comments received on the request:

Given the amount of work that remains to sufficiently answer the Texas request for a waiver from the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS), it is now clear that a final decision on the request will not be completed by July 24. Rather, additional time is needed to allow staff to adequately respond to the public comments and develop a decision document that explains the technical, economic and legal rationale of our decision.

In late April of this year Texas officially requested a waiver from the RFS. Shortly after receiving the waiver request, EPA initiated a public comment during which we received over 15,000 comments and a number of these comments raised substantive issues and included significant economic analysis. I believe it is very important to take sufficient time to review and understand these comments in order to make an informed decision. EPA is also required to consult with the Departments of Agriculture and Energy in considering whether to grant or deny the waiver request and has begun these consultations.

The process remains fair and open and no agreements have been made with any party in regard to the substance and timing of the decision on the waiver request.

I am confident that I will be able to make a final determination on the Texas waiver request in early August.

To help understand what Texas elected officials, lobbyists, and special interest groups that might be for the EFS waiver make up part of that massive number of 15,000 public comments, Capitol Annex has submitted a FOIA request to the EPA for public comment letters from Perry, Bo Pilgrim, any and all state agencies from the Lt. Governor to the Railroad Commission and from any member of the Texas State Legislature (as well as some of the “usual suspect” right-wing Austin-based special interest groups).

So, in advance of the EPA disclosing the records to us (we have requested expedited processing), we’re challenging any member of the Texas Legislature or the executive branch who submitted a public comment on the waiver request–for or against–to get out ahead of the pack and go ahead and disclose what they submitted (after all, we’re going to get it anyway–so why not jump in front of the PAC…come on, be brave). We’ll post it right here on Capitol Annex. You can e-mail them to vince.leibowitz-at-gmail.com. If any officials want to be especially brave, they can send us their public comment letter and tell us how much money they’ve received from Bo Pilgrim.

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